Collected Essays of Valerie Lynn Stephens (Part 9)

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ISBN: 978-1-365-35197-6

©2021 Valerie Lynn Stephens

ON TRANSGRESSION & FORGIVENESS

Excusing an offense without holding the offending party accountable is merely enabling them to go on sinning. Repentance is a part of any sound relational equation.-V.L.S.

Matthew 5:22 King James Version (KJV)

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother WITHOUT A CAUSE shall be in danger of the judgment...

"If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and IF HE REPENTS, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you saying, "I repent", you shall forgive him" -Luke 17:3-4

James 5:16

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

We can all identify with the feeling of indignation that comes along with having been usurped in some way by a fellow human being. And Western society, especially, has a lot to say about how we are supposed to act & feel in these situations. One misconception which we all, I'm sure in some way, been indoctrinated with, is that getting angry at someone else is bad. We shouldn't feel it, & we most certainly are expected to not express it. Yet there are as many variations of this emotion as there are of all of the emotions attendant to the human condition & experience. And one 'shade', if you will, of anger that we have been unfortunately discouraged from owning within ourselves & feeling, is righteous indignation.

The Judeo-Christian Scripture, for one, shows precedent for allowing such feelings towards our fellow humankind when evil has been enacted upon us and/or those we love & care about. We have not only a right to set boundaries up to those who have ill-intent towards us, but we must set those boundaries if we are to prevent ourselves from falling into the ways of evil ourselves. One Scripture, in particular that I will use as a referential point in this brief essay is found in Psalm 101. The first verse is taken from Psalm 101:3-4: “I will set before my eyes, no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will nothing to do with evil.” If that doesn't speak for itself, I don't know what does!

I often think to myself: “Being a Christian does not mean being an enabler of wickedness, or being a doormat!” It most certainly does not. We are also told by Scripture to “expose the deeds of darkness”. And one very effective way that we can do this is in erecting a foundation of self-respect, so that when we are abused by our fellow humankind, we can stand firm in our disallowance of it. Hating wickedness & injustice is not necessarily equivalent with hating “the perpetrator” him and/or herself. Yet, in all honesty, we must, at least until such time as the danger which they pose has passed, allow for a strong enough dislike or or even contempt of these persons so we can protect ourselves properly from their depraved influences over our spirit & our minds.

Furthermore, getting back to Psalm 101, there is precedent found in verses 6-8 as well, for the kind of self-protection of which I speak. The verses read thus: “My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.” Personally, for me, I am careful to interpret these verses symbolically rather than literally. For example, “my house” could also refer to one's own 'inward dwelling of mind & spirit', as being in need of protection against unsavory, outward influences. Also “the city of the Lord” could also be interpreted as one's innermost being standing firm in righteousness so that the “evildoers” cannot penetrate it.

As we can plainly see, our Lord & Saviour most definitely wants us to set up good fences with our fellow humankind, so that we can operate to the fullest efficiency & safety within the bounds of human society at large. And sometimes, this entails the regulation of “the borders”, if you will, so that we ourselves do not fall into the ways of evildoing & wickedness. Yeah, but isn't that “segregation” & being unforgiving? some may wonder. Yet, there are many instances in Scripture, including those to be found in Psalm 101 which I have included in this brief essay, that not only acknowledge the necessity for this sometimes, but in fact, advise us to practice on a daily basis so that we can keep our discernment between those individuals who are truly “blameless”, & thus possessive of good intent towards us when they “minister to us”, & those who are not.

It is thus, a very “Christian” thing to do in taking good care of oneself so that no evil may unduly influence us. It is not about being “hateful”, “stuck-up/elitist”, or “hypocritical”, to not allow ourselves to be abused and/or exploited (whether financially, emotionally, or in some other way) by our fellow human beings. It is about staying on the right path, & making sure that we are empowered from within ourselves to do so by treating ourselves with respect & consideration as regards our own feelings, inward states, & the actualization of our inward talents & skills out in the world. In order to be able to do all of these things, we must nurture ourselves, & protect ourselves from those darker principalities which seek nothing but that of our own enslavement & destruction. Allowing for this kind of kowtowing, does not do anyone any good.

Moreover, another issue that I feel needs to be elucidated upon (for my own edification as well), is that of “forgiveness.” Yes, the original “F-Word”. First off, I will start out by saying that this is largely the Lord's purview. Secondly, that such an event “takes two to tango”, so to speak. Let me elaborate. I say that forgiveness is largely in the Lord's purview, as He is the only Being to whom anyone must answer (myself included) in the end. Furthermore, He is also the only infallible being who can see things with absolute clarity. Also, it is through the power & grace of the Holy Spirit that my own merely mortal inclination & spiritual skill-set can rise to such a grande gesture as the offering of Absolution for another's transgressions and/or sins.

After all the Scripture says that each one must bear their own burdens. Quite frankly, in and of myself & my own limited, spiritually-feeble human ability, I am just not qualified for that. It's not about an insolent unwillingness to offer forgiveness to someone actively & sincerely seeking it. On the contrary, I feel humbled by the realization that perhaps they should ask God our Father for forgiveness, as I might fall short on my end and therefore do not wish to cause any more damage than has already been done. I just personally don't feel that it is my place to wield that kind of power over another human being, & in fact, I would probably tell them that they shouldn't be offering me that kind of power over them. Furthermore, the Scripture says that we must CONFESS or REPENT to the Lord and to others when appropriated, in order to be healed and to find absolution. It says, in a word, to CONFESS and be healed-not DEFLECT and be healed!

Nevertheless, all personal idiosyncrasies aside, let's examine what is required for a successful “atonement” between Violator & Violated. What a lot of people don't realize & automatically judge as “harboring a grudge” or as “being unforgiving” is that: The guilty party must first ask for forgiveness to begin with! And, more specifically, this person must be sensed as being sincere to the potentially forgiving party. Yet, even with that part fulfilled, it ain't over yet. The “offender” must also actively seek to not commit the same violation (physical and/or emotional/psychological) upon the “offended” again. In fact, this is a key element required for the completion of any act of contrition/repentance-namely, that we “go & sin no more.” Why not direct all of the energy used to give a lengthy apology into instead self-reflecting & focusing on not doing the same thing again? I've often thought to myself: “Don't say you're sorry, just don't DO IT AGAIN!” That to me, is a truer & more trustworthy sign of atonement. Even the Scripture bears precedent about this being a two-way street. Scripture even makes an allowance, in the event that our offender is unwilling to make amends with us, to go our separate way & to move on the best that we can.

In finale, Romans reminds us that “all have sinned & fallen short the glory of God.” But this does not preclude each person's right to choose what elements to let in & what elements to keep out of themselves & their homes & their lives. It's not always about “passing judgment on other people”, but is often merely about “securing the perimeters for oneself” so that one properly govern oneself & take accountability for oneself, as we are instructed to do by our Father in Heaven. As G.K. Chesterton once put it: “Good fences make for good neighbours.” And these “fences” exist both from without & from within the minds & hearts of each individual person. In fact, “good”, and conscientious Christians are mindful about not only how they treat others, but of how they allow or don't allow themselves to be treated by others. In a word, if I don't first respect myself, how in the world will I ever be able to teach myself how to respect & to love others? It all starts at home, indeed.

Fundamentally, we are all created equal by Our Father in Heaven, and seen as equal in His eyes. “For God does not show favourtism.” Yet we each are also required, as He would not violate the sanctity of our freedom of choice, to willingly submit and to prostrate ourselves before Him, and before those whom we may have wronged when we seek absolution. As some Christians are fond of putting it: “It's about what's in our hearts that the Lord sees & cares about.” We just must be careful not give sway to “popular” opinion regarding our own feelings when we have been transgressed by another and/or others, & allow ourselves to disown those negative emotions or to feel ashamed or unworthy of them. All this does, is give power to the destructive forces that are at play within the transgressor and the situation at large. It is perfectly okay to feel angry, or indignant when you have been unjustly maimed in some way. It, like all things, is about what we do with our feelings & thoughts which determines whether they end up doing harm or good from within ourselves and then, out in the world.

But, we have to feel to deal, and we have to deal, in order that we may finally, heal. But yes, it is also okay, should someone who has hurt you come to you, sincerely asking for your forgiveness, to grant it to them under your own conditions. In my eyes, no matter how deeply another's transgression may have wounded me, an act of genuine contrition on their end is worth a whole lot more in the long run. And often the hardest and trickiest part often comes down to forgiving ourselves first, when we have erred or hurt someone else. But, we all must earn that part, just as we also must re-earn another's trust whenever we have trespassed against them. And we also have a right to expect others who have trespassed against us to earn their keep as well. This makes for good human relations, all around.

Summary:

I'll say it again: Erecting a boundary against abuse (overt or covert)

is NOT the same thing as 'holding a grudge' against someone.

Nevertheless, the Scripture ACTUALLY says, "He who is angry at his brother WITHOUT A CAUSE is in danger of judgment."

(Matthew 5:22) Furthermore, the Scripture also says, "If your brother sins against you, rebuke him, IF HE REPENTS, forgive him..."

(Luke 17:3) We are instructed throughout Scripture to hold one another accountable if we truly care about creating a godly and just society in which everyone can thrive and do His bidding

in the world.

THE TRUE ENEMY

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.”

-Ephesians 6:10-11

Sometimes the Evil One will plant others in our path to afflict us. Yet we also have to be careful that we are not merely taking what this someone else is saying &/or doing the wrong way. Sometimes we invent enemies in our own heads to defeat, mainly because that is what we are used to-fighting & 'surviving' others. I suppose in part, we also do this because it gives us some semblance of familiarity, and hence, control over our lives & those 'dark principalities' which conspire against us at seemingly every impasse-and of course, a sense of control over that of our own mortality-ever immanent.

Then again, sometimes we are correct about someone's ill &/or false intentions towards us, & we are merely utilizing our God-given 'interpersonal radar' to protect ourselves. It is hard to tell the difference sometimes. This is, I suppose, for those such as myself, one of the byproducts of C-PTSD, I suppose, of being a survivor of systematic childhood emotional abuse. As someone once remarked: “Between the Past & the Present lies many crossed wires!” Nevertheless, the 'damage' is often already done, even if we happen to find out that this 'other' person's intentions weren't what we thought they were.

And this failing of my own “Interpersonal Broadcasting System”, however much a 'venial' sin it may indeed be, is still a sin, nonetheless. It is a failing of my fellow human beings which brings me much grief & abiding sorrow. Oftentimes, we hurt others the most due to our own self-protective reflexes &, at least what we perceive in the moment of emotional danger, our assumptions of others' intentions behind why they did what they did &/or said what they said. All that we can each do, of our own accord, is to continue making a sincere effort to continue treating our fellow human beings with the dignity & the respect that we, ourselves, would like to be treated with. Although, for the time being, one may have to erect a healthy boundary to another person that we either perceive has wrongfully transgressed us in some way.

I am often tempted at the start of new 'relationships' to give a warning: “I am giving you the benefit of the doubt by letting you in. Please do not make a fool of me & make me regret it. And don't mistake my human decency for an invitation to transgress.” Unfortunately it seems, out of about every 300 people that you meet, you are blessed & fortunate to cross the path of even just one person who has no ulterior motives towards you, & who truly understands & is capable of respecting you. But, let it be. Let it be. That, in my book, is more than enough to make it out of this Life with your Soul, unsold.

And as always, a cultivation of self-awareness is our most impenetrable shield against those 'dark principalities' which conspire against all servants & children of God out there in the world merely trying to bring some Light & some Truth to this dark world. Although we must take heed, when wielding this 'Shield of Self-Possession', to not leave that 'Shield of Faith', that 'breastplate of righteousness', that 'belt of truth', that helmet of Salvation & that 'Sword of the Spirit' forged alone through the power of the Holy Writ, at home in the closet (Ephesians 6:10-18). Self-reliance is all good, until we come up against our humanity, & the dysfunctionality of our 'crossed wires' & past wounds.

Because truth be told, yes, there are some 'deliberately' (even if perhaps unconsciously) treacherous & mean-spirited people out there, but we must remember that they, too, sometimes act out of their own woundedness-not that this is an 'excuse' for their behaviour, but it can enable us to erect healthy boundaries while also treating those who wish us harm with dignity & sensitivity. And by the way, being 'guarded' is not the same as being callous or cold-hearted. As a matter of fact, healthy boundaries against those who mistreat us serve the main function of preventing our own feet from 'slipping into evil'. As the Scripture so sagely reminds us to: “Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”(Proverbs 4:23) To that I would add: “Guard your Mind, for it can become the wellspring of Death.” All priceless treasures must be well-guarded, & well-kept.

And truly, Scripture also reminds us: “For our struggle is not against flesh & blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:12-13)

SENTIO ERGO SUM

It seems that the sacrosanct striving towards an organism's mere self-preservation is that which ultimately may lead to its demise. To parallel this with the Kabbalistic concept of Tikkun Olam, energy cannot remain contained or trapped within a vessel without eventually compromising or completely shattering that vessel. Energy must be expended. It must be left free to pursue its own natural and rightful course. And this especially, includes we as human vessels. For much discourse has been expended beyond its energial good about things such as individual identity and the clinging to thereof. But the truth remains that we can define ourselves according to the possibilities contained within every precious moment of conscious awareness & action/inaction. For this, allows for continued growth & expansion.

The older I have gotten, this one truth of the irreducible complexity of personal accountability & its relation to society as a whole, continues to manifest itself to me. We are all fundamentally, down to the core aspects of our humanity and substantiality, one and the same entity merely manifest in myriad imagos of existential mosaic. We are all uniquely designed, but collectively created for the same ultimate purposes. Another truth which continues to stand out to me in starkest contrast to all that most of us have been indoctrinated with, is that we cannot rationalize our way completely through this existence, we must also dream our way through it. Between Mind & Heart, indeed. Yet the two are not mutually exclusive, nor need they be approached this way. Although I suppose this is a part of Nature's continual struggle for balance and fluidity.

But perhaps Humankind needs a new kind of revolution-one not so ecumenical in its pursuit, since we seem to be so reluctant to relinquish the obsolescence of the old Cartesian paradigm of strict dualism and reductionism, which admonish us to remain split into two estranged halves-all heedless and needless in actuality. To add a spin to the old Cartesian precis: "I think, therefore I am." perhaps it would be best to rephrase: "Sentio ergo sum." I feel, therefore I am. For not much of true substance and worth is accomplished in this world with the head at the helm and the heart in the stern. For our feelings are the seat of our Souls and our higher potentialities, contrary to prevailing worldly wisdom. Yet placing heart over head is also not the solution but rather, an earnest striving to maintain a healthy balance of expression between the two. And if we can accomplish this but if for even one shining moment or task in any given day, we have achieved a greatness perhaps unlauded by this world, but a greatness in actuality far more meritorious & potentially beneficial to both the Individual and the Collective.

CRITICAL THINKING

First off, I must apologize in advance for the tone of this first paragraph-at least the first few sentences. I will not however, apologize for the Truths which they seek to illuminate upon. But, here goes. Apparently, some folks in this world seem to mistake 'being critical' for critical THINKING. The ability to make instantly negative & derogatory assumptions about people &/or what they do &/or say & why they do what do and/or say doth not, a circumspect or erudite observer make. In fact, this merely makes them look, at least to a truly discerning & critical thinker, like a complete & utter jackass. And if you've ever noticed, their 'criticisms' are rarely, if ever, even based on accuracy or truth. And this is just another reason why they are annoying, because they're illogical.

Mind you, I understand that sometimes, people are just under a lot of stress or just 'having a bad day'. But I refer to those individuals who seem to have worked hard at making these traits an ingrained part of their very BEING. Like most critical thinkers, I judge people based on what is consistently displayed regarding their attitudes & behaviours, for better and/or for worse. And even then, I believe everyone to be blessed by Our Lord with something called 'Freedom of Will &/or Choice' and extend them the benefit of the doubt that they might at some point make a sincere & concerted effort to improve upon themselves psycho-spiritually, as Carl Gustav Jung would have called it. We all, not matter how wretched, have redeeming qualities. Thus, I might erect a 'good fence' towards a transgressive individual, but I will also remain open to a later addition to that fence-say, a nice little gate or even a wheelchair accessible ramp leading to the house of my 'psyche', for those who may suffer from mental/emotional handicaps, but nevertheless are still working at their own 'rehabilitation.' 'Cause let's face it: We are all 'damaged goods'. It's what you do with what you've been left with that counts.

But all Chestertonian & cheeky metaphors & quips aside, (“Good fences make for good neighbours.”) let us explore what critical thinking actually is, & why it is so indispensable to anyone's education. (In fact, this is one area which is sorely lacking in most schools for young adults). And quite beautifully, an analysis of critical thinking is one entity which applies its own very principles in its dissection without nullifying and/or obscuring the results of said dissection. It is the mind pondering its own self, if you will. So, let's begin! Below are some of the criteria for honing one's critical thinking skills in ways which enrich not only one's own world, both inner & outer, but the worlds of our fellow human beings as well whenever we interact with them utilizing said skills & intelligence. 'Cause when we help ourselves, we are helping one another without immediately realizing it.

Oh, & by the way, I myself mainly taught my own self how to develop my critical thinking skills. I was never presented a 'formula', or a 'spreadsheet' or lesson book on such a thing. I think I personally picked it up merely through a love of learning (Philology) in general & through being a voracious reader. Reading comprehension is also another area that is indispensable to one's formal education which many schools seem to also be lacking in. When I was a tutor, many of my students who had been 'labeled' that way by our educational system, were not 'dumb' in the least. I noticed instead that, what they struggled with in regards to their study books & lesson formats, etc., was reading comprehension. For example, I was helping a young lady get her high school diploma, & she needed help with some of the questions in her History book. It wasn't that she failed to apply herself-in fact, she was one of the most motivated students I had come across, as she truly wanted to learn it & understand it. It was that she had trouble with understanding what the question was asking of her as far as to what 'answer' it was guiding her to arrive upon through her own deductions.

This is just a small example of how critical thinking & encouraging our children to use their minds to explore things for themselves is so tantamount. Mind you, the ability to think in a really abstract way doesn't begin to develop until about middle school age, and maybe a little later for some, but one's whole life itself in so many other ways can be adversely effected by a failure to either be guided in that direction by someone else, or to be disinclined to do so for oneself. Yes, it is true that not everyone is naturally intellectual or introspective, but I believe that every human individual is intrinsically gifted in each our own ways, both intellectually &/or in some other way less 'cerebral' & perhaps more 'physical'.

Nevertheless, in continuum, training the mind in how to think is kind of the actual point behind 'getting an education' (or it SHOULD BE.) It's not so much a matter of merely learning a whole bunch of facts & figures that we probably won't remember five years from now unless we use it on a daily basis, but rather, it is meant to 'exercise the intellectual faculties', if you will. To build up 'brawn-in-the-brain!' But I will save that discourse for another essay. This piece is no way meant to be a 'scholarly treatise' concerning Logic and/or Epistemology, or any other such thing as we are taught in the realms of Philosophy. It's just meant to be a more accessible guide to the realm of the miraculous & fascinating (& often frustrating & even disturbing) organ that is the human brain, or in this case, the human Mind is more apropos, since we will be exploring some of its more saliently 'abstruse' functions & features. Or, as we refer to it in plain English: Critical Thinking. And again, although there certainly are principles which can be applied, we mainly 'learn' this skill by practicing it in daily life & engaging in a conscientious, & responsible way with both the world 'inside' of ourselves & with the world 'outside' of ourselves.

'Wu Li'

First principle of Critical Thinking: Being mindful of the hindering presence of 'Wu Li.' 'Wu Li' is a Chinese expression denoting many differing things, one of which is “I Clutch My Ideas.” If one is to 'train the mind in the way that it should go' then first, we must start with a tabula rasa or 'clean slate.' Personally for me, in the 'family system' in which I was raised (but mostly 'put down') I was taught a lot of wrong things & ways of thinking about & perceiving not only my own self but the world outside of myself as well. Thus, I had more on my 'tabula' than some young adults that age, to make corrections to. In fact, most of it had to be completely erased before I could begin anew & see things, including my own self, clearly.

And I will add, this is a painstaking, arduous & often painful & frightening process. This is why a lot of people shy away from teaching themselves a better way to think, because they have, like I had, been programmed with a lot of misconceptions if not total lies & bullshit, if I may speak plainly. Thus, trust me, I know firsthand of the subject that I am addressing. I've been there. With that all having been said, then how can one go about doing this? First off, if you are looking for a 'Critical Thinking For Dummies' kind of checklist or 'How To', you may be disappointed. As I said before, each individual must make their own 'journey inward', if you will. It starts with a small step of self-reflection, day by day, eventually leading up to a deeper & more rewarding sense of self-awareness & knowledge. And although self-reflection is its own form of cogitating, it is just as essential to wholeness & actualization as a refinement of our critical thinking faculties.

The Greeks call the aforementioned phenomena of a deep & abiding sense of peace & happiness born of self-awareness & self-control, 'sophrosyne'. And trust me, when we come to take the time with ourselves to know ourselves, we will become much healthier & happier, at least relatively speaking. But mainly, in having gotten to know ourselves, we will be able to now actualize ourselves-our truest wants & desires out in the world. We will also experience the added benefit of being able to share in that health & happiness with others as well. As someone once sagely observed, “One cannot serve from an empty vessel.” But mostly, in keeping an open mind to continual learning we will achieve untold personal growth & fulfillment.

'Go With Your Gut'

This one applies the principle of 'If It Doesn't Seem 'Right', It Probably Isn't'. First off, I believe that everyone was created to possess an innate intuition of 'right' & 'wrong', in both a logistical sense, & even in a moralistic sense. (The moralistic part is fodder for another discussion, so I'll just set it on the 'pew' for now for later perusal). Although this premise may be exposed to doubt in the presence of some people who seemingly lack this inherent sense of higher intelligence, trust me, they've got it too; they just choose not to more fully develop it or to use it. And as far as the erroneous notion that some of us are just miraculously 'born' with high IQ's (not that anyone with half a brain even believes that there is only one category of higher intelligence, especially as measured by such a 'daft' instrument such as standard IQ tests extant currently).

But everyone must work at developing these faculties, & refining them. Yes, it is true that some people are more 'extroverted' & invest more of their time & energy into more 'outwardly' activities & endeavours, while other people are more 'introverted' & work at our best when we are invested with an equal balance of both 'inwardly' directed activities & endeavours as well as outwardly ones. (Although I have also had to work at developing my more 'extroverted' abilities & interests-no one is born a fully developed, well-balanced human being-but that's what keeps life interesting & challenging, right?). So, no excuses, people, you're smarter than that!

Incidentally, I find it funny how people who talk about these issues are often accused of being 'condescending'. Trust me, if I truly doubted your intelligence, or disregarded you so much as a capable human being, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Thus, my main point for this entry is: Everyone is usually a whole hell of a lot capable & gifted than they think they are. The hardest yet most rewarding part of this is in finding out what makes you special & irreplaceable-because despite what that priggish boss once told you when you threatened to quit: “Well, everyone's replaceable.” you're NOT. Don't be afraid to shine, even when they try to dim it because it's shining in their eye!

But I will end it with this quick caveat: Be brilliant, but try not to be a jerk about it. But I guess some will need to be graded on a learning curve. After all, coming to know oneself & to be secure with that self in its totality takes many years, even decades to achieve-even for we more introspectively-inclined folk. 'Cause truly, I think a lot of 'assholery' comes from people who just aren't as sure of themselves & are afraid other people will notice. But if they could only realize how unnecessary all of that over-compensation is. If they would only just invest their energies in getting to know themselves, build up trust in themselves by making better choices in how they interact with their fellow human beings, and in how they treat themselves, would they come to realize that they never really needed all of that hubris & posturing in the first place.

Yet this is why learning how to 'go with your gut' takes work, just like any other psycho-spiritual endeavour. And perhaps it is even wise to teach ourselves this kind of 'critical thinking' before we should attempt any other schooling in critical thinking. Because we are all too aware how many brilliant people there are, who just seem to lack that amour-propre necessary for enabling them to utilize their intellectual gifts in ways that are redeeming & constructive to self & others, rather than demeaning & destructive.

Thus, no more of this Head Over Heart nonsense (Or even Heart Over Head)! We have both, & the world is a much more constructive & lovely place when we develop both Head & Heart to serve one another, rather than pitting them constantly against one another within our own minds & hearts. 'Cause the 'Head' can be thought of as the part of us that thinks: “Wait a minute. That just does not sound right.” And the 'Heart' can be thought of as the part of us that says: “Wait a minute. This just does not feel right.” And the Head is there to make sure that 'Lil Brother or Sister doesn't gets itself into a heap of trouble. And the 'Heart' is there to make sure that 'Big Brother or Sister doesn't lose its sense of humanity & morality. Thus, no more sibling rivalry! Mama Me says they will serve each other, or have their Internet taken away for a week!

'Thinking On A Higher Level Leads To Living On A Higher Level'

Many gifted authors have graced us with their wisdom on what they have termed, “EQ” or “Emotional Intelligence Quotient”. But what does a honing of the Intellect have to do with emotional intelligence? According to the current milieu, these two things must be regarded as mutually exclusive, right? And not only that, they must also be pitted one against the other & engineered to believe that they are one another's mortal enemies. But, I've already covered the whole 'head-over-heart' things in my last entry, so, I will now proceed into the next lesson in critical thinking-or at least the next 'paragraph' of it.

Not enough can be said about the virtues of a well-trained cognitive faculty. For a well-trained mind leads one to a well-lived life. Let me elaborate-at least briefly. Knowing how to synthesize information & how to make sense of all of the entropy which tends to afflict mortalkind everywhere (including plants & animals), reaps infinite rewards. Now, when I say 'infinite' I am speaking colloquially, within the very finite framework of a human lifespan not to exceed 120 years. Everything beyond that seems infinite to us, right? And although it may seem odd that we have to 'learn' how to think, considering that our scientific designation be 'homo sapiens', it is true. We do. Okay, maybe not in an informal sense, but we do have to learn how to think logically, effectively & constructively if we are to be enabled for self-actualization, especially in a world which has grown increasingly hostile & impeding to such virtuous human endeavours.

Because let's face it, those higher aspirations borne from the human spirit are not exactly enabled in our world. In fact, they are downright squelched at every possible impasse! In fact, this is why so many just give up & never actualize themselves on a higher & deeper level. But I definitely empathize with their plight-I am after all, human too. Cognitive Dissonance leading to Existential Nihility is a pernicious & intractable feature of our human consciousness & condition. But some of us thrive upon the challenge of creatio ex nihilo! We love to create something from nothing! Although technically, there is always something there, even at what physicists call an 'absolute zero' or vacuous state.

Or, as Aristotle once put it: “Natura abhoret a vacuo.” I know I abhor a vacuum. And maybe this is why I have never really felt bored for any long period of time during my life. My mind is always working-especially when I'm asleep & dreaming! Anyhoo, my premise for this entry is that taking the time to contemplate the mysteries of self, other & Universe is a worthy & very fruitful endeavour for all involved. Higher thinking also leads one to better living. Because once one has breached more of an understanding about this life & why we are here, one can actually begin living the answers instead of searching for them on an intellectual and emotional level.

In fact, many syntheses of mindstuffs find their apogee within a moment of being & doing out in the world. Plato's students became known as the 'Peripatetics”, named after their teacher who would pace up & down the grounds of the Lyceum as he lectured. Many still find this physical motion of the body helpful in tandem with thinking, speaking & learning. So, for those who still believe that is such a thing as a 'man of action' and a 'man of thought', & that the two are completely different species even from a completely disparate phyla, enough of this! Every human being contains within its potential, both a capacity for thought and action! In fact, the two are mutually exclusive elements, but in a reverse-mitosis kind of sense in that one cannot be fully actualized without the other!

Thus, forget about reductionistic labels of 'thinker' & 'doer'-you are both! Mind you, everyone has an unequal balance of any given set of traits and/or inherent abilities, but we all possess the potential for development either way. And although I have always loved the elegant turn of phrase by Heinrich Henne: “Mark ye well, ye men of action, ye are but the instruments of the men of thought.” I have to say that I can no longer enjoy it as much as I used to, seeing as I know better now & no longer agree with its premise that one can only be 'either-or'. We live in a world which attempts to engineer people's minds towards this militant form of dualism & vapidity. Sure, it may be easier for some to pretend that this Universe and all in it & beyond it, including themselves, are anything but astoundingly & wonderfully complex, but I prefer a world where impoverished quality of thought & quality of life will never become so familiar that I no longer even care whatever happened to my former & truer self.

'Jainist Manifoldness'

Within the East Indian school of thought called 'Jainism', there is a theory called the 'Jainist Theory of Manifoldness' which I have always held dear. This philosophy follows what in Sanskrit is called 'anekantavada', or the 'not-one-sided-doctrine'. Furthermore, this theory is predicated upon a principle of mental non-violence towards objects (& subjects) in contemplation. To clarify, it recognizes the manifoldness or complexity of every existing entity, & believes that such entities are violated through the reductionistic approach often taken towards them in order to understand & classify them. The term 'ekanta' describes these singular, absolutist predications. This theory was based on Mahavira's teachings, & also extended to a respect for the manifoldness not merely of 'objects and subjects', but of variant ideologies & thought-systems themselves.

Mahavira was a young prince who lived circa the 6th century B.C.E. Who, having become disenchanted with the trappings into which he was born, traveled his native India for 13 years. One day, as legend tells it, he experienced a feeling of unity with all creation & a liberation from all of his earthly woes. He named himself 'Jina', which means 'the conqueror' or 'conqueror of the Mind', & thereafter established a following of disciples who practiced his philosophy & lifestyle of righteous living, & nonviolence, both physical & psychological. What I love most about this particular view, is how it honours the complexity & irreducibility of all beings, especially human beings.

We all have experienced at some time in this life, being abused by a world which feels the need to 'cut us down to size' & to force us into demeaning, oppressive, & dehumanizing caricatures & reductionistic stereotypes. This doctrine, even in merely reading & absorbing its beautiful Truth, is vindication in its own way. It is also healing in its own way, merely by reading it & having my humanity & experience validated by others outside myself. We all need this mirroring, more than we know. So what does this have to do with my theme of 'critical thinking'? Everything! An illuminating & healing doctrine such as this was arrived upon through the very methodology of critical thinking on its feet! The higher we allow ourselves to think, and the deeper we allow ourselves to connect with ourselves, with others & with the Universe at large, the closer & closer we get to Wholeness & Transcendence.

You see, is it any wonder how this world, so ruled as it is by those “dark, unseen principalities” tries to lure people into thinking less & feeling less? Of course it does, because then, we remain in the dark, perhaps comfortable in our apathy, yet unfulfilled & deeply anguished at the same time. Yes, indeed, our minds must be very powerful entities, seeing as destructive forces seek to medicate & hypnotize them into non-being with such insidious persistence! I guess the point I'm getting at is that a failure to properly develop the mind can lead one to some very dark & even dangerous places. A rabbi once noted: “A truly devout man cannot be ignorant.” A unification of Mind & Spirit must be striven for if one is to fulfill what I believe to be this human existence's highest purpose & greatest honour: To become more & more each day, fully human, in that we may someday breach what it is to be in the full presence of the fully Divine, reunited with our true birth Father, the Ultimate Source of all Salvation & Amelioration.

'And The Mind Ponders Itself'

As I type this, my mind is forming thoughts. Oops-see, already an error. My mind was forming thoughts before I began typing this. Between the present perfect & the present-or is it by now the past tense? All so mercurially fleeting isn't it? Even when I read Jean Paul Sartre's 'Being & Nothingness' in my early twenties, despite my grasp of most of his thought processes, there were certain things I just didn't get. But I knew that, after reading a second & a third & however many other times, that I would experience the book in a slightly different way each time anyway, & so I just let it be. Letting it be, is key, I suppose, to a good rapport with one's own mind. If one can just release the fear of one's own mind perhaps leading one to a place where one does not want to go, then some real growth & progress can begin.

This is one of the more pernicious 'symptoms' of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even being a person who courageously faces the Truth about myself, others & the world in general still does not preclude that of my own vulnerability & humanity in the face of it all. After about 20 years of relentless psychoanalysis & 'self-help' methods applied (most of which actually were very helpful to my healing process), I came to the realization that enough was enough. I had done the work as far as I could be expected to complete it & that it was best to leave the rest to more celestial powers. In a word, 'therapy' was beginning to become counterproductive for me beyond a certain point. Although those 'celestial powers' that I mentioned before were the powers helping me along the way the whole time, even when I felt close to the edge, much like the angel which spared Abraham his son Isaac's life when it pulled him away from the edge of the cliff. I personally feel His presence just as much and often more so in situations where I am able to resist some kind of evil from overtaking me, and not just in situations where I feel like doing a 'good deed' & then do it, spur-of-the-moment. Goodness is also achieved through resistance to Evil. But I won't delve too far into that one for this particular essay.

So, the mind pondering itself. What exactly is critical thinking? If I were to invent my own definition of it, it would go something like this: “the application of Reason & Intuition with the aim of arriving upon an adequate establishment of fact & truth as they relate to present reality.” But my mind is critical of that definition because not only do I possess an inherent distrust of all things reductionistic and the like & thus feel it lacking & limited in scope, but I also had to allow for an accommodation of relativity & temporality as it relates to epistemological entities such as “fact”, “truth”, and “reality.” Personally I make a distinction between “reality” & “truth.” Reality to me, is those phenomena which derive mainly from the 'physical' senses & from those deductions which are strictly logistical & communally evident to all persons perceiving said phenomena. Truth to me, deals with more intangible phenomena which derive mainly from more “intuitive” faculties of perception, which have as their most salient function & feature, the grasp of phenomena both metaphysical & absolute. To put it in another way: 'Reality' is relative & transient. 'Truth' is absolute & eternally fixed, or homeostatic.

But what does all of this have to do, again, with 'critical thinking'? Everything! My ability to discern Truth is no less essential than my ability to 'know facts' or to 'be in touch with 'reality'. We live in a world which also attempts to dichotomize these two salient & spiritually pertinent elements into mutually exclusive domains. This is often why we see many very 'sane' & highly sentient, lucid individuals (myself included) labeled as being 'insane' or 'mentally ill' by our society. This phenomena of course, has many causes, but this is one of them.

I also think that things that our society may have deemed acceptable & even willfully engineered us into doing as children, if manifested in an adult, gets 'pathologized' and/or demonized. For example, whenever I feel lonely, I still invent 'imaginary friends' inside of my own head. I know they are 'not real', just as much as I knew when I was a child, nevertheless, I am wise to keep this behaviour to myself & not to exhibit it out in society. Although I still, even in an age of Bluetooth & Mp3 players get gawked at whenever I am taking aloud to myself walking down the street. It is sad how much spontaneity & joy we are denied as 'adults' due to this & other forces at play, but unfortunately, we must adapt. But, both 'realms of mind' are equally as healthy, and equally as valid, so long as they are balanced out with the other essentials in life. The truly 'insane' are often deemed the societal ideal & norm. Not that I am saying that all 'conformists' are sociopaths in lamb's wool, but I merely refer to those individuals who, back when it was called this, would have been deemed 'criminally insane', or as I like to call it 'morally insane.'

Although I definitely do not believe that these individuals can credibly claim insanity as a legal tactic & defense. Evil people choose to do & to be evil. This, to me, is the true definition of pathology, insanity and/or 'mental illness.' But no matter how many new terms we invent to put into the DSM, the human condition will not be helped as long as we feel the need to re-victimize the victim-to demoralize the human being who has already been demoralized enough in most cases, through systematic childhood abuse. And this is where the evils & damages of a world which thrives on a paucity of feeling & humanity & a shallowness of analysis & intellectual pursuit, are revealed in their crudity. And the same phenomena can be witnessed in our criminal justice system.

As long as some people choose to judge & to treat their fellow human beings based on dehumanizing & demoralizing stereotypes & feeble-minded worldviews, the inequity & iniquity will continue. Yet another case in point for the redeeming virtues of 'critical thinking'. And so it seems that the title of this here entry: 'And The Mind Ponders Itself' has digressed (or perhaps progressed) into some of the most eminent reasons why it is driven & must remain driven to ponder itself & the condition into which it has been borne: To continue its search for Truth & Justice in a world which seeks to turn the human mind upon itself, so that the Truth becomes obfuscated by all of the meaningless & distractionary chaos & idiocy.

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